Westerners are considering a response against the Houthis who block naval trade in the Red Sea

Is the Red Sea becoming too dangerous? Several global shipping giants suspended their navigation this weekend, due to attacks perpetrated by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

On Saturday, December 16, an American destroyer shot down 14 drones sent from Yemen to merchant ships. The aircraft were destroyed before reaching their target and there was no damage or injuries. But the day before, a container ship was put out of service, hit by a ballistic missile which caused a fire. These are just the last two examples.

Faced with the increase in these attacks, the world leader in maritime transport MSC announced over the weekend that, to protect the lives of its sailors, its boats will no longer transit the Red Sea. It was followed by the three other largest European operators, the Danish Maersk, the German Hapag-Lloyd, and the French CMA CGM. Their boats will only return to sea when there are no longer any security problems. In the meantime, they are invited to stay at anchor or change route.

Bypass too expensive via the Cape of Good Hope

Another route will necessarily be longer, because the Red Sea is the fastest passage between Asia and Europe, thanks to the Suez Canal. Around 20,000 boats pass each year on this sea highway, one of the busiest in the world, particularly for the transport of crude oil and fuel from Gulf countries to Mediterranean ports.

The bypass route must pass through the Cape of Good Hope, in the south of Africa, to go all along the coast to the Strait of Gibraltar. It’s obviously much longer. According to S&P, an American financial analysis firm, the link between Rotterdam and Singapore, for example, will be extended from 15,000 to 21,000 km. On average, it will take one to two weeks longer, with additional costs to compensate for fuel consumption. MSC asks its customers to “proof of understanding“.

A diplomatic or military solution?

FFaced with increasing international pressure, faced with chancelleries denouncing extremely serious threats to maritime trade, talks began this weekend, under the mediation of the Sultanate of Oman.

This did not prevent the Houthis, who rule much of Yemen, from announcing the continuation of their attacks in solidarity with Hamas until Israel ends its offensive. On Saturday December 16, they also targeted the Israeli seaside resort of Eilat.

If the solution is not diplomatic, it will be military. For the moment, the West has not developed a coordinated response, but the American Secretary of State for Defense has discussed this subject with his British counterpart. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, traveling to Israel this weekend, confirmed this for her part: several defensive options.are under study“.

According to the magazine Politicoof Senior Biden administration officials are exploring options to retaliate against the Houthis, even as others are reluctant about a military response, fear of provoking Iran. In recent days, the Pentagon has still moved an aircraft carrier (the “Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group”) from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Yemen, in order to support a possible response American attacks. An official – who testifies anonymously – assures that the army also provided commanders with options to strike the Houthis.